Cathy Zembower of Ocean City shops for holiday cards at the Ocean City Factory Outlets on Tuesday. The outlet stores will open at 6 a.m. for Black Friday.

Written by

Calum McKinney
Staff Writer

SALISBURY -- Several area stores will have their earliest hours ever this year in anticipation of hoards of Black Friday shoppers.

According to a study by global consulting firm Accenture, 72 percent of U.S. consumers plan to spend carefully this holiday season, with 88 percent spending the same or less than last year. Despite the sedate outlook, retailers are hoping to lure customers in by making Black Friday more of an event.

The Centre at Salisbury is among those changing things up, opening at midnight for the first time. ...